Insider shares ominous update on 49ers' Nick Bosa

It's looking more and more like the San Francisco 49ers will be without All-Pro pass-rusher Nick Bosa for this coming Sunday's regular-season opener at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"...Until there is a significant breakthrough, I do not expect Nick Bosa on the field for the San Francisco 49ers," NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport explained during a segment that aired Monday evening, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "And this really isn't a question of, is he going to be the NFL's highest-paid pass rusher? It sounds to me like they're already there, already past [Steelers edge] T.J. Watt. That's not really what this is about. T.J. Watt, of course, at $28M on an average per year basis. This is about how close to [Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle] Aaron Donald's $31M and change does he get, or does he get over that?"

Bosa is in the final year of his rookie contract, remained away from the club throughout the preseason and may want to become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Some have blasted the 49ers for not paying the reigning Defensive Player of the Year with the Week 1 game in Pittsburgh now days away, and San Francisco safety Talanoa Hufanga raised eyebrows when he said Monday that "we've just got to prepare as if (Bosa is) not going to be here." 

Rapoport suggested it's unlikely the Niners will have Bosa in the lineup at Acrisure Stadium on the second Sunday of the month. 

"...Wednesday starts the game week," Rapoport continued. "And if he is not there Wednesday, obviously, it would not bode well for him being able to participate in this week's game. If there is anyone whose resolve you should never doubt, it is someone with the last name of Bosa." 

As of Tuesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the 49ers as the favorites (-130, -2.5) to beat the Steelers. San Francisco plays at the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2 on Sept. 17.